Chairman: Clive Burrows
RSSB committee members: Jeff Allan / Steve Roberts
Secretary: Natasha Jones on 020 3142 5540
Introduction
The Vehicle/Train Control & Communications System Interface Committee (V/TC&C SIC) was established to provide the focus for vehicle/train control systems, telecommunications and signalling issues on behalf of the industry. This includes supporting and informing the industry’s Rail Technical Strategy, including the long-term strategy for the interfaces.
Scope
The scope of the V/TC&C SIC is defined in its remit and includes:
- Maintaining performance and availability of currently deployed systems and investigating the potential for new systems
- Adding value to existing assets by ensuring that at the interface the most cost effective solution is sought, compatible with balancing the needs of safety and performance
- Utilising research to investigate new technology as well as improving the interface
- Delivering strategic research programmes to the Technical Strategy Leadership Group (TSLG)
- Proposing new and changes to Railway Group Standards, and to Guidance Notes
- Sustaining the life of current systems and carrying out research to support future developments.
Membership
The V/TC&C SIC has members representing the following industry stakeholders:
- Network Rail
- Passenger Train Operators
- Freight Operators
- Rolling Stock Companies (RoSCos)
- Suppliers
- Department for Transport (DfT)
- Office of Rail Regulation (ORR)
- RSSB
SIC programme
The SIC has developed a programme of work covering the period 2010 – 2012. This programme covers completed and ongoing activities that V/TC&C SIC consider will contribute to the strategic long-term needs of the railway and other cross-industry programmes, providing improvements to service efficiency and cost effectiveness, including:
- Supporting the industry to develop and implement a CCS Defect Recording Analysis and Corrective Action System (DRACAS)
- Developing and promoting train detection including technical information on the wheel/rail interface to support the development of track access charges
- Enabling industry to use lower cost Automatic Warning System (AWS) magnets and to reduce by 50 per cent the number of receivers needed on go-anywhere trains
- Proposing the replacement of the third-rail DC network with 25kV AC OLE to increase capacity and performance
- Involvement in developing a strategy on train positioning.
Every year the SIC provides an annual report on its activities to the Technical Strategy Leadership Group
Research and development
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On behalf of the V/TC&C SIC, a guide has been produced of all VTC&C SIC related research managed by the RSSB research programme. This booklet gives a general overview of research in this area that has been completed and also that which is currently in progress. Printed copies of the booklet can be requested by emailing research@rssb.co.uk. |
Driver Advisory System
Following the completion of RSSB research project T724 Driver Advisory System for Energy Management and Regulation, V/TC&C SIC has supported development of such a system. As part of this work, a concept of operations has been developed for a standalone Driver Advisory System. Work is now progressing on a concept of operations for a DAS which is connected to control centres.
SIC sub-groups
The VTC&C SIC subgroups were established to assist the railway industry in managing the work programmes for VTC&C SIC in the most effective, safe and cost efficient way:
- Train Control Technical Sub Group (TCTSG)
- Radio Electronic Token Block Working Group (RETB WG)
- Track Circuit Assisters Steering Group (TCA SG)
- Chiltern Automatic Train Protection User Management Group (Chiltern ATP UMG)
- Great Western Automatic Train Protection User Management Group (GW ATP UMG)
- Future Communication & Positioning Systems Advisory Group (FC&PS AG)
- Train Protection Warning System Strategy Group (TPWS SG)
- Defect Recording Analysis and Corrective Action System Working Group (DRACAS WG)
- Vehicle Communications Advisory Group (VCAG).
- Future Traffic Regulation Optimisation Programme Control Board
- Future Communication & Positioning Systems Advisory Group (FC&PS AG).
The structure of these subgroups and their associated working / steering groups is set out in a management diagram.
Events
VTC&C SIC will host the third FC&PS AG Networking Event in mid-2012. Further information on this event will be available early in 2012.
The objectives are to:
- Bring together key stakeholders in rail (TOCs, Network Rail, RoSCos and other users) with suppliers, including those from non-rail markets
- Facilitate exchange of ideas that can support the key objectives of FC&PS AG, particularly the Operational Communications work and concepts around a Train Location Service.
If you would like to be added to the distribution list for future events please e-mail Conferences@rssb.co.uk.